Controversy fumes over the Guardian UK newspaper article

On November 4th 2006, The Guardian UK newspaper published an article against Sathya Sai Baba entitled "The Indian living god, the paedophilia claims and the Duke of Edinburgh awards." It has recently come to light that The Guardian wrote this article in exclusive collaboration with critics of the Indian guru, raising concerns of hidden bias and compromised journalism.

Critics of the Indian guru were shown boasting on various internet forums that they were behind The Guardian newspaper article and worked in collaboration with Paul Lewis for six months before it was published.

http://www.sai-fi.net/sathyasaibaba/paul_lewis_the_guardian.html

Proponents of the Indian guru asserted that those opposing Sathya Sai Baba wage an unremitting smear campaign against him that accuses him of 'serial pedophilia' and the sexual abuse of 'boys' and 'children'. These allegations are fallacious, unsustantiated and wholly untrue. There are no testimonies from 'boys', 'children' or parents of children that supports the erroneous claim that Sathya Sai Baba is a 'pedophile' who engaged in sexual interactions with children. To date, there are no court cases, police complaints, affidavits, public grievances or lawsuits from any parent alleging that Sathya Sai Baba sexually abused his/her child. Not even one single legitimate complaint.

The Guardian article also reported that the guru was 79 years old and he was inviting the UK Sai Youth Group for his 80th birthday celebrations. The guru is actually 81 years old and celebrated his 80th birthday celebrations last year. The Guardian newspaper also incorrectly quoted the US State Department advisory for India, which does not mention Sathya Sai Baba by name. Complaints and letters of concern by devotees and proponents have gone unheeded by The Guardian newspaper editor. Paul Lewis, the journalist who wrote the piece, cannot be reached for comment.

An internationally networked domain relating to Sathya Sai Baba that provides information and resources about the Indian Guru.